Indie Label Takes Apple To Task

10/13/2009
. (gizmodo.com) With a higher price than regular albums, no lossless audio and virtually no device support, iTunes LP seems like a hard sell. Turns out, it might be lame for musicians too-at least, the ones without platinum records. I spoke with Brian McKinney, who runs Chocolate Lab Records, a smallish label out of Chicago. As someone who actually makes records, he saw potential in iTunes LP, and after seeing how incredibly simple the actual LP files are, started looking into making some himself. It didn't go so well:
"I contacted the digital distribution manager at my label's distributor. He had a conference call with an iTunes rep and asked how we go about putting an LP together. He was told that LPs aren't being offered to indies and that there are only about 12 LPs being offered right now. They also said that iTunes charges a $10,000 production fee for them as well. So that pretty much edges out the indie market completely."

Deflecting criticism that it's just another way to squeeze a few extra dollars out of customers, Apple pitches iTunes LP as a way to bring back "the visual experience of the record album" (Which they helped kill in the first place. Penance, or something!) - more including an update with Apple's response

Click here to read today's full report

Preview and Purchase iTunes CDs

iTunes MP3 Downloads

Day In Rock

Matt Cameron Parts Ways With Pearl Jam After 27 Years- Three Days Grace Take 'Apologies' To No. 1- Ill Nino Reveal New Singer- more

Rare Randy Rhoads Footage Shown At Back To The Beginning Event- Lamb Of God Share Surprise Black Sabbath Cover- Oasis Make Triumphant Return- more

Day In Country

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Releasing New Duet 'A Song To Sing'- Hear Russell Dickerson 'Sippin' On Top Of The World'- more

Day In Pop

Lorde Almost Tops Billboard 200 With 'Virgin'- KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack Enjoys Big Second Week- more

Reviews

Sites and Sounds: Montana Folk Festival Coming to Butte (And It's Free!)

Dave Koz & Friends at Sea Cruise, Part 1: Sax Man and Pals Set Sail in Europe

5 Star: Styx - Circling from Above

Quick Flicks: Re-Animator 40th Anniversary

Clarksville, TN Attraction Historic Collinsville Set for Civil War Days Reenactments